Moongardening Inc. might have an unusual band name as well as an album title, but their music manages to stand out and impress. Creating a solid fusion of pop, jazz, blues and a whole lot in between; A Sky Full of Killer Whales exudes a certain charm.

Only downside is that there's hardly anything about the band online except what's written on their BandCamp page and sparse reviews here and there.

Nevertheless, their music can easily take front and center without much background info about them. 

Made up of  Sarah van der Meer (voice), Munuera Rodrigo Martin (guitar), Fernando Revuelta (Low), Pablo Oliva (keyboards) and Nano Cañamares (drums); the album mixes folk, indie pop as well as jazz and blues in certain areas. There are even times when progressive rock is introduced courtesy of prolonged guitar riffs and trippy vocals.

Speaking of prog influences, the first cut, The Sky, is a short but chaotic mix of guitars, drums, and distortion. Although you'll hear this trait in some of the songs, majority of the cuts are more folkish pop than anything else. Take for instance the third track, To Have or Have Not; the song is a laid back cut that features Sarah's feminine vocals. With a jaunty tune, it's easy to relax to and perfect for perking up your day.

One of my personal favorites from the album is Big G. It opens with heavy guitars which gorgeously complements the female vocals. Towards the middle part, the boys perform some melodic backup singing and it just brings back so much nostalgia of good old 70s rock. They cap off the entire record with a 10 minute opus titled, The Killer Whale. There's a huge blank sound in the middle with only the first and last parts containing songs. They couldn't have capped the record much better since the song evokes an ethereal feel.

A Sky Full of Killer Whales is one record to watch out for. The fact that the band doesn't really stick to one genre makes it even more interesting. You get one enjoyable track after another; something that's a bit rare to see these days. Go ahead and grab the download. It's available at a pay-what-you-want option.

Related Links:
Moongardening Inc. on BandCamp
Moongardening Inc. on Echocord
Moongardening Inc. Feature

One Lick Less proves that you can do so much with just drum & bass and the occasional vocals.  We Could Be Quiet contains music that hovers around free-ranging blues, progressive improv and even "spectral math rock."

When you listen, it's not hard to see all this. The album is an intense, sometimes instrumental, compilation full of eclectic bits and pieces all cohesively working together.
The result is impressive, in terms of range and style. It's also something difficult to describe since it's rare to hear such a unique sound.

One Lick Less is made up of duo Julien Bancilhon and Basil Ferriot. Together they create a sound that's trippy and complicated yet pleasant to the ears. Most of the time, it's the instrument work and beat that takes center stage with vocals thrown in the mix. They admit to being influenced by a myriad of artists including Nirvana, John Coltrane, Jesus Lizard, Tetsuki Akiyama and Miles Davis to name a few. As a result, the album is a hodge podge of blues, grunge, and rock all rolled into one.

We Could Be Quiet starts with the upbeat, Alameda. The song is danceable one with a nice blues jazz touch and great guitar playing. It's easily one of my favorites in the record, as it conjures up images of Spanish guitars and dancing to some moonlit campfire in a foreign land. Fuzzy Rats, on the other hand, is among the tracks that feature voice. The melodic, somewhat detached, vocals are accompanied by slow but expert guitar picking and builds up to an uptempo wave of beautiful drumming.

Closing song, Vastly Phial, has a nice haunting, Sonic Youth influence in it. There's the jangly, distorted guitars with chanting vocals that add to the dark atmosphere of the track.

In the end, the album is a unique one that's worth watching out for. Grab the download and take a listen. It's available as a free download over at BandCamp, but you can opt to help out the group by purchasing a physical copy of their record as well.

Related Links:
One Lick Less on BandCamp
One Lick Less on Facebook
One Lick Less on Myspace

If you're in the mood for some uptempo indie rock, listening to the The Julys is a good place to start. According to their facebook bio, the band started off "as two young men coping with the loss of their respective harpy women."

They've certainly come a long way since then. Now, the band is a quartet that creates some really good and catchy indie rock mixes. Instead of bitter, heart wrenching lyrics; the band takes on a feel-good disposition; filling their sound with bouncy beats, hipster style guitars and some wild Little Richard-style singing.

Armed with catchy tunes and a nice 50s rock and roll flair, The Julys manage to entertain and engage listeners with their hipster indie rock style. Starting with the frantic and catchy Springsteen, they couple shouty vocals with sporadic drumming and spastic guitars. It's followed by the equally upbeat, In French. Again, you have the characteristic wailing-50s vocals matched up with quirky guitar work, handclaps and a feel-good vibe.

By the time you get to Bowie, you'd be groovin' and expecting nothing less from the hipster indie rockers. The song is right up their alley, this time showcasing their penchant for good lyrics and vocal mixing. The remaining singles, Declan and NYE, resound in plenty of hipster influence. The band admits to being fans of hipster champions, The Strokes. Indeed, their sound does reflect this admiration as it contains a similar catchy beat and stylistic swagger.

Overall, each track on this mini EP is worth exploring. Whether you even like to listen to hipster/indie rock or not, the songs are guaranteed to at least generate good vibes. Take a listen. The album is available at a name-your-price option.

Related Links:
The Julys on BandCamp
The Julys on Facebook

Blues has always had a special place in my heart so when I found this really cool record from Freeky Cleen, it definitely made me smile. Acoustic Blues Jams is a laid back and simple guitar driven blues jam from a one man band.

The project began back in 2004 when Ilya Polishchuk and Alex Okhrimenko decided to create their own recording studio, complete with instruments and systems that they created themselves. This was a big challenge but they managed to succeed. After taking the plunge, Ilya recorded a couple of original tracks which would eventually lead to Freeky Cleen's debut record, Infertility, back in 2005.

To date, this is the sixth release from the artist. Acoustic Blues Jams is exactly like its title. It's a hodge podge of beautiful blues jam sessions accompanied with Ilya's country style vocals and clean acoustic guitar playing. The album contains 15 tracks including 3 bonus singles.

Starting with the catchy Married Man Blues, the song laments temptations besetting well...a married man. Featuring great guitar skills and a very laid style, the song is instantly likable even after just one listen. The vocals and backing voice lends itself to the song and definitely add that touch of sincerity to the lyrics. Other tracks like Feelin' Low Down, echo a more rhythm and blues vibe reminiscent of various blues artists who pretty much spearheaded the sound. Elements of hard rock, country, bluegrass and even boogie woogie dominate Freeky Cleen's sound; providing audiences a chance to enjoy this long-forgotten sound especially in today's pop-driven music world.

Overall, the record is a great one to have for those who know how to appreciate acoustic blues. It's a beautiful and relaxing compilation that makes you want to find yourself a bayou somewhere with guitar on hand and singing the afternoon's away. You'll find the record in Jamendo as well as on the band's official website.

Related Links:
Freeky Cleen Official Website
Freeky Cleen on Last FM
Freeky Cleen on Jamendo

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Playing a mix of country, folk, rock and a bit of pop, The Patinettes certainly know how to reel listeners in. With their brand of music, this five piece crew from Zaragoza, Spain are slowly making the rounds and getting their name known among internet music lovers.

Although there's not much about the band online, just one listen to their songs and you'll realize why they deserve a spot on your player. Filled with retro surf rock flair, beautiful vocals and a catchy bluegrass/country vibe; it's hard not fall for the album.

The band is offering their record for free download over at Jamendo. It's licensed under a Creative Commons.

There are some albums that take a few listens before you pronounce it as a good or even likable but Bliss is a real charmer. From the first 5 seconds of the Mystic Monkey, you'll know that this is a record that can potentially stay on your daily playlist for awhile. The opening single and title track is an upbeat retro style song that recalls the swingin' 50s. With the sultry yet powerful vocals and the catchy beat, it's hard not to like the song at all.

This bouncy sound shows up once in awhile in the album. Carefully balancing their sound, the band creates several tracks exuding that retro surf rock dance vibe while the other songs showcase a more mellow, sugary pop sound. For instance, tracks like Brainless and Thinner Than Water both shower you with great vocals and an upbeat rockish tempo while songs like Milky Day clearly showcases the band's melodic folk side.

Bliss is definitely a charming compilation that almost anybody can enjoy. It has a little bit of everything to satisfy different types of music lovers out there.

Related Links:
The Patinettes Official Website
The Patinettes on Myspace
The Patinettes on Alternative Airwaves
The Patinettes on Jamendo

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Normally, most artists would be excited to share their thoughts, ideas, influences etc. about their music, but not Idbs. In fact, he makes sure to let the people know this by tacking a polite but straightforward note on his Jamendo page stating: This text is useless as the music speaks better of the artist than itself.

True enough, the music does communicate itself very well. It Has to be Done is a beautiful mix of acoustic, folk, pop and even rock & roll. It's a gorgeous album beaming with soulful guitar driven love songs with the occasional and unexpected touch of alternative grunge.

When you hit play, you're greeted with Me Ire Colorado. A slightly trippy, slow Spanish track that makes you think of dark alleys or dark and quiet lakeside haunts. Even though it's a bit short, the song is enough to make its impact. The barely-there vocals add a nice, almost romantic, element to the song as well. Gloria and Tet, is a lovely and short Cowboy-style-guitar-song-over-a-bonfire. The song is sadly a bit too short but I guess it helps to keep the interest running.

Switching gears with And Then, the song is a laid back cut that's relaxing in a weird way. The low-key vocals are still there and it adds an air of interest to the song and beautiful piano work. On the other hand, Fire is probably the loudest track on the record. It's a mix of alternative, psychedelic rock that's definitely a pleasant cut for most rockers.

The album is definitely a great find if you're looking for something new. It's one of those records you pop in your player and just leave playing as you do your work, relax, reflect or do whatever.

You can download the album on Jamendo. You can also check out the rest of the artists' records from there. Everything is available under a Creative Commons license.

Related Links:
Idbs on Jamendo
Idbs Official Website
Idbs on The Sixty One

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Chile License.

In a scene dominated by glamor and pageantry, the gritty and bare-bones rarely stand a chance. Sure, The White Stripes and The Strokes made it, but their presence is hugely rendered anomalous by the prevailing forces. That's why it's a delight – and a respite – to stumble upon something as authentic as The Diamond Light. In 2009 this Los Angeles-based “soul-rock-blues” band, as the members categorize it, released Krotona, an eight-track EP that is a testament to how good and satisfying music gets when you keep it raw and real.

There isn't one languid moment in this release, even as supposedly lethargic acoustic tracks turn up in a significant number. Contrary to that notion, these acoustic numbers possess the broody, sinister power of Delta blues that serves as a pass to a vicarious experiencing of the unknown; in fact, the first few of moments of Get Behind the Mule, with its quasi-lo-fi wailing vocals and hard-times-inspired eerie melodies, are Delta blues by all important measures.

The electric tracks, on the other hand, are buoyed by a masterful reworking of signature blues-rock riffs and licks and tightly interlocked drums and bass, creating late-60s and early-70s dynamics and vibe, which the band obviously strives to achieve. Vocalist Griffin Young's pipes and melodies work toward this end as well, though it may be noticed how his voice takes on qualities of those of Silverchair's Daniel Johns and ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper John Frusciante.

And since this is an unapologetically old-fashioned rock and roll band, Krotona is not bereft of vigorously played guitar solos, earning it an added dose of grease. Which is a necessary element for the band to stay true to what it is -- raw and real.

If you like them and would like to hear more from the band, head to their Kickstarter page and help make their next album possible.

Related Links:
The Diamond Light Official Website
The Diamond Light on Facebook
The Diamond Light on YouTube

Demo Days is an indie pop alternative album that you might want to check out. There's hardly anything about these guys online but if you let the music speak for itself, they're definitely worth your time.

Creating an indie pop sound, Aw-1 collects 12 tracks in their record that range from upbeat, danceable tempos to indie love songs that you can sing to your partner as you enjoy a quiet moment together. This diversity makes the album nice and perfect for all types of mood you might find yourself in.

One thing you get from this group is an interesting mix of soft pop love songs mixed with hipster uptempo beats. Occasionally, there are songs that somewhat settle in between, unsure of being a slow pop love track or an all-out dancy track.

Starting off with the soft, bluesy tune, A Long Way To The Top, the band gently sways the listeners into their brand of music. It's a bit dark with hints of jazz and blues incorporated in the song. Another cut that echoes this vibe is Three Little Slugs. It comes complete with finger clickings and a smooth, slightly baritone voice from the singer.

There are also tracks that deliver a slightly different flair though. Cuts like Enter Plageman showcase a hipster indie pop side to the group while Champaigne Eyes is a moody alternative/progressive track that could as well belong to a Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin album.

Overall, this record certainly has it's plus points. The production quality is good. Although it can be a bit hard to pinpoint the type of music these guys really want to play; yet it's this eclectic feel that adds to the album's interest.

Related Links:
Aw-1 on Jamendo
Aw-1 on BandCamp

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One man band, Matt Kurz, knows how keep the drums on a steady beat, the guitars wailing and the bass guitar slappin'. He also knows how to add his signature growl and keep everything interesting. Perhaps the biggest draw is that this guy can actually play all these instruments at once!

Debt Sounds is the first album from this multi-intrumentalist/one-man-band who dubs himself, The Matt Kurz One. It's a mix of old school rock and roll with some upbeat indie hipster feel. Each track is quite catchy, making you want to head bob or tap your feet.

Here's a little background on the main man and how he decided to play all the instruments himself: "Matt Kurz was born on Long Island, New York on September 19th,1980. Throughout his teen years he was in various local bands playing various different instruments. After being in a series of bands that instantly imploded, he decided to give up on music. This did not last very long. After having recurring dreams of an old bluesman who played a snaredrum with his left foot and a bass drum with his right while playing guitar, he decided this was a sign and should try it himself."

Debt Sounds is essentially a rock and roll album that's catchy and impressive. Opening with the James Brown tribute song of sorts, "Solid Gold Coffin," the album kickstarts the onslaught of upbeat rock with a slight 50s vibe. The lyrics were taken from Brown's interview while he was under the influence of drugs. Another song that was initially meant as a "love song" according to the dexterous singer, is "Hey Renee." The track is quite catchy and one of my personal favorites in the record.

The compilation is a good mix of styles that highlights Kurz unique playing. Most of the songs contain enough hooks to grab and impress listeners.  Of course, it's nowhere near perfect. As Randy Jackson might put it, "the vocals are sometimes pitchy, dawg," nevertheless, the instrument work and the tunes are enough to make you listen.

The record is available as a free download at Quote Unquote Records and it's licensed under creative commons.

Related Links:
The Matt Kurz One on Quote Unquote Records
The Matt Kurz One Weon Myspace
The Matt Kurz One on Sputnik Music
The Matt Kurz One on Elbo.ws

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.

Carrying the torch of indie pop rock, Apache Dropout adds some extra cool retro vibe to spice up their personal sound. This six track promo EP sounds like it was unearthed from some 60s traveller's suitcase.

Filled with jaunty, The Doors sounding tunes the album is a great delight to listen to, especially if you love retro rock music.

Apache Dropout hails from Bloomington, Indiana. The band is made up of Nathan Warrick, Sonny Alexandre and Seth Mahern. Together, they have released several short albums and hopefully there's more to come from this talented trio.

From the moment you play the first track, I'm So Glad, you know there's something more to this band. The song welcomes you with a screaming wail, dusty guitars and a track that sounds like it was recorded at the back of a pick-up truck running through a dirt road. The single might seem rough but this definitely adds flair to the song.

Another track I'd gladly take with me on a long drive include, the upbeat and raunchy, Teenager; from the vocals to the instrument work, you could easily mistake it for an old Who cut (and no it's not just because of the Teenage Wasteland vibe). The EP is rounded off with the Johnny Cash inspired single, Run Peacock Run, which is another favorite of mine.

With a penchant for abrasive retro rock and roll, the band pretty much carves up their own niche for modern listeners to take pleasure in. The EP provides a great deal of insight on what you can expect from these Indiana natives. Grab this 6 track EP for free or shell out a small amount and help the band by buying the full 11-track album.

Related Links:
Apache Dropout on BandCamp
Apache Dropout on Myspace
Apache Dropout on Facebook
Apache Dropout on Family-Vineyard
Apache Dropout on Free Albums Galore

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